Double cutout spindle cap



Dec. 3, l968 F. 1. RUSSELL 3,413,829

DOUBLE CUTOUT SPINDLE CAP Filed Feb. 20, 1967 l l 40 f IQ I9 I5 V73 2O 5 INVENTOR. FRED J2 RUSSELL 3,413,829 DOUBLE CUTOUT SPINDLE CAP Fred .1. Russell, 8635 Otis St.,

South Gate, Calif. 90280 Filed Feb. 20, 1967, Ser. No. 617,350 3 Claims. (Cl. 70-224) ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE The invention relates to door locks wherein a keyactuated mechanism is located in the handhold, such as a knob or lever handle. In the structure to which the invention is applicable, the handhold is nonrotatably attached to an interior tubular spindle by a releasable detent, so that the handhold can be removed from the spindle. The spindle, when rotated, actuates a conventional lock mechanism. A key-actuated mechanism or core, which consists of a separate, removable unit, is located within the handhold and also within the outer end of the spindle. A protrusion of the key-actuated core, known to the trade as a pin tumbler chamber, extends outwardly and is received within one of two oppositely located slots in the spindle. Practice requires that the key-actuated mechanism or core be capable of being reversed 90 degrees to appropriately invert the keyway on left hand and right hand doors, respectively. It is for this purpose that the spindle has two slots, one on each side. Between the spindle and the face of the handhold is a ring which interconnects the spindle with the face of the handhold. The ring is adapted to have a snug tit in an appropriate hole in the handhold face so that it can be placed in position where it will tend to remain. On a rearwardly extending ange of the ring are two cutout portions which correspond to the slots in the spindle. The ring is positioned in the handhold so that the cutout portions will align with the slots in the spindle. Accordingly, ythe key-actuated mechanism, when positioned in one of the slots and the corresponding cutout portion, can be reversed in position upon removal of the handhold and the handhold reapplied without it being necessary to disturb the position of the ring in the face of the handhold and even though the handhold is not relocated rotationally.

The prior art is exemplied by applicants prior Patent No. 3,149,485 issued Sept. 22, 1964, and Patent No. 3,190,684 issued June 22, 1965. Patent No. 3,190,684 shows a cap interconnecting a knob face with a spindle for the purpose of stabilizing the knob with respect to the spindle under circumstances where the knob has a shank of relatively large diameter rotatably mounted on a hub forming la bearing for the opposite end of the knob. There was no provision at `all for reversing the orientation of a key-actuated mechanism, although a single cutout provision was made for such an accessory.

In Patent No. 3,149,485, a key-actuated mechanism was provided for, but here again no provision was made for reversing its orientation. However, a single wide passageway was provided through the ring, but this was to permit extracting the key-actuated mechanism outwardly through the knob face.

It is often desirable to be able to reverse the direction of the keyway. Unless there is provision in the spindle for reversing the key-actuated mechanism, it may have to be inserted in a position reverse from that desired. Moreover, where a stabilizing ring is also part of the install-ation, there is another element which must be taken into consideration when the key-actuated mechanism is to be reversed.

nited States Patent O Patented Dec. 3, 1968 ICC It is therefore among the objects of the invention to provide a new and improved double cutout spindle cap or stabilizing ring which can =be easily placed in proper position in the handhold face, which can remain in that position in the handhold face when the key-actuated mechanism is reversed, `and which will accommodate the key-actuated mechanism in reversed position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved double `cutout spindle cap or stabilizing ring which can be inserted into an opening in the handhold face with relative ease by linger pressure. Once in position, it expands slightly to provide a firm grip, positioning it in selected orientation in the handhold face and which will constitute a relatively permanent position even though an accompanying key-actuated mechanism may be reversed in position.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved double cutout spindle cap or stabilizing ring which is small and compact, easy to manipulate, which holds itself firmly in position once a proper position of adjustment is established, which is neat and trim in its appearance, which provides the desirable amount of bearing support between the handhold and the spindle, and which, at the same time, permits reversal of orientation of the key-actuated mechanism without need for disturbing the position of the ring in the handhold face.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the construction, arrangement, and combination of the various parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter set forth, pointed out in the appended claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view of a knob showing a key-actuated mechanism in one position of orientation.

FIGURE 1a is a front elevational view similar to FIG- URB 1, but showing the key-actuated mechanism in a reverse position of orientation.

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view on the line 2-2 of FIG- URE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary sectional View on the line 3--3 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a front perspective view of the spindle cap or stabilizing ring.

FIGURE 5 is a front elevational view taken on the line 5--5 of FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 6 is a rear elevational view taken on the line 6 6 of FIGURE 4, showing, in phantom lines, two different positions of the pin tumbler chamber which forms part of the key-actuated mechanism.

In an embodiment of the invention chosen for the purpose of illustration, there is shown the exterior portion of a lock mechanism mounted upon a fragment of door 10 over which is applied a rose 11. Although the device has reference to handholds generally, the handhold in the chosen embodiment consists of a knob 12 having a knob face 13 and a shank or neck 14. A ring 15 extends outwardly from the rose 11 and is provided with a recess 16 which clears the end of the shank 14. A hub 17 has a threaded engagement with the interior of the ring 15 and forms an exterior surface over which the inside of the shank 14 is adapted to rotate. A spindle 18 is rotatably mounted within the hub 17 and extends outwardly into a chamber 19 of the knob 12. The spindle 18 is adapted by conventional means to manipulate parts of the lock which are not shown, but which customarily include a reciprocating latch bolt (not shown).

In the outer end of the spindle 18 are slots 20 and 21, the slot 20 being on the upper side and the slot 21 on the lower side, as viewed in FIGURE 2. The slots 20, 21

3 extend outwardly through the end of the spindle 18, which is adjacent the interior of the knob face 13.

A key-actuated mechanism, indicated generally by the reference character 22, consists in the main of a cylinder plu-g housing 23 adapted to t inside the spindle 18 and from which a pin tumbler chamber 24 protrudes on one side. In FIGURE 2, the pin tumbler chamber 24 is shown extending upwardly and is accommodated by the upper slot 20. It could be reversed to the broken line position 24' and would be accommodated by the slot 21.

For interconnecting the outer end of the knob 12 with the outer end of the spindle 18, there is provided what has herein been termed a spindle cap or stabilizing ring 25, shown in perspective view in FIGURE 4. On the Outer side of the stabilizing ring 25 is an annular projection 26 which is adapted to extend into an opening 27 in the knob face 13. An annular shoulder 28 underlies the knob face 13 at the edge of the opening 27, and at the outer perimeter of the shoulder 28 is a flange 29. The ange 29 helps form a recess 30 for reception of the outer end of the spindle 18.

In the flange 29 are two cutout portions 31 and 32, the cutout portion 31 being the one on the upper side as viewed in FIGURES 2, 4, and 6. In the chosen embodiment, a split 33 extends entirely through the stabilizing ring 25 and arbitrarily is located so as to communicate with the cutout portion 31.

In use, the stabilizing ring 25 is inserted in the opening 27 of the knob face 13 from the rear by pressing the projection 26 into the opening 27. If the stabilizing ring 25 is a split ring, as shown, the stabilizing ring 25 is contracted slightly when it is pressed into place. The stabilizing ring 25 expands slightly, due to its inherent resiliency, and forms a snug engagement with the opening 27. Should the stabilizing ring 25 not be split, then a light press t would need to be provided between the exterior of the projection 26 and the opening 27. When the stabilizing ring 25 is positioned, it is oriented so that one of the cutout portions, the cutout portion 31 for example, faces upwardly when a hole 35 on the shank 14 of the knob 12 extends sidewise. The key-actuated mechanism 22 is then inserted in the chamber 19 and into a central opening 36 of the stabilizing ring 25, so that its outer end is reatively flush `with the center of the knob face 13. At the same time, the pin tumbler chamber 24 is received in the cutout portion 31, and a keyway 37 is in the orientation shown in FIGURE 1. The knob 12 with the key-actuated mechanism 22 thus inserted is then applied over the end of the spindle 18, and the pin tumbler chamber 24 is pushed into the slot 20, until a rear portion 38 of the key-actuated mechanism 22, carrying a customary tailpiece (not shown), engages other related portions of the lock. When the knob 12 is finally in position, a detent 39, springpressed by means of a spring 40, will extend into the hole 35 and, in this way, following conventional practice, retain the knob 12 on the spindle 18 in nonrotatable position.

When it becomes desirable to reverse the position of the key-actuated mechanism and the keyway 37, the detent 39 is depressed, the knob 12 is removed, together with the key-actuated mechanism 22, the key-actuated mechanism 22 is then released from engagement of its pin tumbler chamber 24 with the cutout portion 31, and is rotated 180 degrees, to the position suggested by FIGURES 1a and 6. In this position, the pin tumbler chamber 24 is engaged in the lower cutout portion 32, without there being any need to disturb the position of the stabilizing ring 25 in the knob face 13. The knob 12 and accompanying key-actuated mechanism 22 is then reapplied over the end of the spindle 18. This time, the pin tumbler chamber 24 will be received in the slot 21 in the position 24 shown in FIGURES 1a, 2 and 6. The detent 39 will then re-enter the hole 35, in the same manner as has been previously described, and the knob 12 will then be reassembled with the spindle 18, but with the keyway 37 reversed in position as shown in FIGURE la.

While the invention has herein been shown and described in what is conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention, which is not to be limited to the details disclosed herein. but is to be accorded the full scope of the claims, so as to embrace any and all equivalent devices.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new in support of Letters Patent is:

1. In a door lock having a hub, a spindle mounted in the hub with slots therein adjacent a free end on diametrically opposite sides of said spindle, a handhold having a nonrotatable engagement with the spindle, a face on the handhold having an opening therein in axial alignment with the spindle, and a removable key-actuated mechanism comprising a cylinder plug housing adapted to t slidably in said spindle and a pin tumbler chamber extending from one side of said cylinder plug housing and adapted to extend outwardly through one of the slots in said spindle, the combination of a positioning ring having an annular outwardly extending projection tting in said opening with a light press-fit, a shoulder on said ring lodged against the inside of said face and an inwardly extending flange on said shoulder overlying said spindle and provide a recess for reception of the free end of said spindle, said ring having cutout portions in said ange on diametrically opposite sides releasably receiving said pin tumbler chamber therein when the pin tumbler chamber is in a respectively adjacent slot in said spindle.

2. A door lock as claimed in claim 1, wherein said ring has a split therethrough and wherein the outwardly extending projection on said ring has an initial diameter slightly greater than the diameter of the opening in said knob face.

3. A door lock as claimed in claim 2, wherein the split in the ring is located adjacent to and in communication with one of the cutout portions.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,719,424 10/ 1955 Rayburn 70-224 3,077,100 2/1963 Gelach 70-224 MARVIN A. CHAMPION, Primary Examiner'.

R. L. WOLFE, Assistant Examiner. 

